Peter McIntyre (Catholic bishop)
Encyclopedia
Peter McIntyre was the third Bishop
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
, succeeding Bishop Bernard Donald McDonald.
Born in Cable Head
, St. Peter's Bay, Prince Edward Island
, Peter McIntyre was the son of Scottish
immigrants who arrived on the Island in 1788. He received his early education from St. Andrew's College on P.E.I., before being sent to study at the College of St. Hyacinthe, followed later by a theological course at the Seminary of Quebec.
Ordained a priest
in 1843, McIntyre served in a number of parishes, including in Quebec
and his native Prince Edward Island. On the island, he was assigned to Tignish
, where he is recognized as having built one of the finest Canadian churches. He served seventeen years in Tignish before being consecrated as Bishop of Charlottetown on August 15, 1860 at St. Dunstan's Basilica
.
As bishop, his first trouble was anti-Catholic sentiment, that had been expressed in several Island newspapers. However, the problem seemed to eventually pass, and peace was restored. Bishop McIntyre would also become the first diocesan bishop to take up lodgings in Charlottetown, where the "palace" was built in 1875. The house continues to act as a home for the basilica and other clergy.
In the field of education, McIntyre established many churches and schools in the diocese, including the College of St. Dunstan's, a convent in the Magdalen Islands
. He was also responsible for erecting St. Patrick's School for Boys next to St. Dunstan's Basilica, and followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Bernard Donald McDonald by bringing Sisters of Notre Dame
to teach on Prince Edward Island
.
In 1869, McIntyre was one of many who attended the First Vatican Council
in Rome
. Later, he toured parts of Europe and Asia. In 1878, the bishop was a key figure in the establishment of the Charlottetown Hospital, the first hospital in the city which was open to people of any religious background. McIntyre was also instrumental in establishing the Catholic Total Abstinence Union which spread through the diocese during the 1870s to help prevent the danger of alcohol consumption.
Bishop Peter McIntyre died in 1891 at the bishop's house in Antigonish after serving as head of the Diocese of Charlottetown for thirty-one years. His funeral was held at St. Dunstan's Basilica and his remains were taken by train to his native parish of St. Peter's Bay to be interred in the basement beneath the church altar.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown is a Roman Catholic diocese which comprises the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It is currently led by Bishop Richard John Grecco...
, succeeding Bishop Bernard Donald McDonald.
Born in Cable Head
Cable Head, Prince Edward Island
Cable Head is a cape in Kings County, Prince Edward Island, north of St. Peters Bay. Its precise location is 46'28"N, 62'37"W.The official history of the geographic name Cable Head is that when the first Scotch settlers came to this district, they found on the shore below the farm now owned by...
, St. Peter's Bay, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, Peter McIntyre was the son of Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
immigrants who arrived on the Island in 1788. He received his early education from St. Andrew's College on P.E.I., before being sent to study at the College of St. Hyacinthe, followed later by a theological course at the Seminary of Quebec.
Ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1843, McIntyre served in a number of parishes, including in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and his native Prince Edward Island. On the island, he was assigned to Tignish
Tignish
Tignish is a fishing community located in western Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is located approximately NW of the city of Summerside, and NW of Charlottetown...
, where he is recognized as having built one of the finest Canadian churches. He served seventeen years in Tignish before being consecrated as Bishop of Charlottetown on August 15, 1860 at St. Dunstan's Basilica
St. Dunstan's Basilica
St. Dunstan's Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Charlottetown in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is named for St. Dunstan the great Anglo Saxon saint from Glastonbury...
.
As bishop, his first trouble was anti-Catholic sentiment, that had been expressed in several Island newspapers. However, the problem seemed to eventually pass, and peace was restored. Bishop McIntyre would also become the first diocesan bishop to take up lodgings in Charlottetown, where the "palace" was built in 1875. The house continues to act as a home for the basilica and other clergy.
In the field of education, McIntyre established many churches and schools in the diocese, including the College of St. Dunstan's, a convent in the Magdalen Islands
Magdalen Islands
The Magdalen Islands form a small archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence with a land area of . Though closer to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, the islands form part of the Canadian province of Quebec....
. He was also responsible for erecting St. Patrick's School for Boys next to St. Dunstan's Basilica, and followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Bernard Donald McDonald by bringing Sisters of Notre Dame
Sisters of Notre Dame
Sisters of Notre Dame may refer to:*Congregation of Notre Dame de Montreal*School Sisters of Notre Dame*Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur*Sisters of Notre Dame of Coesfeld...
to teach on Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
.
In 1869, McIntyre was one of many who attended the First Vatican Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Later, he toured parts of Europe and Asia. In 1878, the bishop was a key figure in the establishment of the Charlottetown Hospital, the first hospital in the city which was open to people of any religious background. McIntyre was also instrumental in establishing the Catholic Total Abstinence Union which spread through the diocese during the 1870s to help prevent the danger of alcohol consumption.
Bishop Peter McIntyre died in 1891 at the bishop's house in Antigonish after serving as head of the Diocese of Charlottetown for thirty-one years. His funeral was held at St. Dunstan's Basilica and his remains were taken by train to his native parish of St. Peter's Bay to be interred in the basement beneath the church altar.